Global Courant
Maine’s Democratic Secretary of State was questioned after alleging that No Labels, a centrist group vying for a third-party spot on the 2024 ballot, tricked voters into registering with the party.
“I worry whether the Secretary of State is raising concerns among voters who have voluntarily signed cards in support of the No Labels effort.” Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine., co-chair of No Labels, told a local news outlet after Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows expressed concern about the group.
“I don’t know if she’s sending a letter like that to someone who’s signing up for the Green Party or the Libertarian Party,” Collins added, revealing that she found Bellows’ letter “surprising.”
Bellows initially suggested that several complaints had been made by concerned voters who were unaware they were registered with the No Labels Party. Democrats then contacted 6,456 Maine voters registered with the centrist group to verify that they were aware of their membership in a political party, reportedly receiving about 300 phone calls and emails in response.
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The Secretary of State claimed that No Labels was “deeply misleading”. (Gordon Chibroski)
“Voter after voter tells my team that they were instructed that they just signed a petition. They were not told that they were changing political parties,” Bellows told NBC Monday. “We’ve had enough similar complaints from voters and clerks alike that it’s a serious concern in our office about the organizers of the No Labels Party.”
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Democrats have spent months calling No Labels a spoiler attempt designed to hurt President Biden in the 2024 election, but the group insists the US is ready for a moderate alternative for Republicans and Democrats alike.
Despite Bellows’ claims that the group was “deeply misleading” in its voter registration efforts, No Labels insists it was never notified of organizers asking Maine voters to sign a “petition.”
Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, questioned whether Bellows would treat the Green or Libertarian parties the same way. (J. Scott Applewhite)
“Your agency’s apparent attempt to immediately leak your letter to the press without giving No Labels any chance to respond also raises legitimate questions about your objectivity,” the group said in a written response to Bellows. “No Labels has provided detailed written guidance to all organizers in Maine on compliance with all applicable laws and has specifically instructed all organizers to ask voters to join the No Labels Party.”
No Labels said it complied with state voter registration laws and provided a copy of the package that organizers refer to when speaking to voters.
The “question” portion of the package gives No Labels organizers directions on what to say when speaking to voters.
“Can you take 60 seconds to update your voter registration and change your party membership to the No Labels party? If we can only get 5,000 voters to register with the No Labels party, we can make sure you has more than just two options in the next election,” the package says.
Senator Joe Manchin is considered by No Labels as a potential third-party nominee for entry in 2024. (Jonathan Ernst)
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Former Senator Joe Lieberman, a No Label co founder, recently told Fox News Digital Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., and former GOP Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland “would be a natural to consider” for the 2024 No Labels ticket if the party decides to nominate a candidate.
Aubrie Spady is a freelance production assistant for Fox News Digital.
